Tears and memories

 

Such an amazing experience. Just after a sacrament mtg.

The time fast approached when we had to leave the island paradise we have grown to love so much.  It has been a spiritual paradise as well as a tropical island paradise.  Last Monday we drove away in our little truck packed with luggage, memories, and a love for a people on a little island in the middle of a big blue ocean.  For the last time we parked our truck on the ferry and as we stood on the top balcony we waved good bye to dear friends standing on the dock, our last crossing to the island of Cebu. 

We will miss these brothers and sisters we have grown to love so much. 

Mary Anne always beat me in the pedicab race

A mission was such a unique experience.  We had the opportunity to be a part of people’s lives in two of the most important areas that exist in people’s lives, their relationship with God and family. Because we work with people at this level we get connected in such a deep way. Here is one last story we'd like to share: well, we can't promise it's the last but . . .

Bro J and Sis M's amazing house on the beach

Awesome family we were teaching just before we came home

Soon after we first arrived on our mission, we had the opportunity to help so many that were affected by tyhoon Sendong.  In one particular area that was hard hit we worked with the community to repair an elementary school.  In the process we got to know the barangay captain (cities are divided into barangays which have their own government but are still subject to jurisdiction of the city and the captain is elected by the people in the barangay and is the leader).  We met her husband and son at the elementary school graduation celebration a few months later.  We were able to get an appointment to go to their house to begin teaching the family.  One of their two children had previously died at a young age and they were particularly interested in hearing about the plan of salvation.  We taught the parents only. The twenty year old son was nice to us but did not have an interest at that time.  The parents listened politely, asked good questions, read and loved the Book of Mormon, but were not interested in seriously pursuing what we were teaching them.  So for about six months we did not teach them, although, we would see them from time to time and chat on the street or by the library.  About three weeks ago we made a final attempt to visit them in their home. We took the elders in our area to introduce them to the family and so they could continue to teach after we left.  All the chemistry was perfect.  The son was home because at the last minute his mom had told him he couldn't go to the party he had planned on.  The spirit was so strong, everyone had tears, especially the son.  He connected with message and with his mother and father in a way that surprised us all.  These are people who are well to do, the family is very well known in the community, the mother is a politician, the parents are leaders in “Couples for Christ”, a Catholic organization for married people to do good in the world.  The son is very athletic and very bright.  They are the type of family that would be a great asset in the any ward or branch.  To see this family come together in each other’s arms with tears, brought on by the Spirit of the scriptures they were exploring was such a miracle. The parents saw the effect the message had on their son and their level of interest heightened. They have been reading the scriptures and praying together as a family since.  It is obvious to the parents and the son that a significant event has happened because of that visit with the son present.

Reminiscing

The following visit they were all were prepared with their scripture assignment read and they had great comments and questions on the readings. Last Friday we taught them for our last time.  They are in the final stretch of a campaign season that demands a lot of their time, but they asked us to come at 8 am, the only time they could squeeze in, so we could get in one more lesson before we left.  The Lord has prepared this family at this time and we had to leave, but they will be well taught by the zone leaders who are now will carry on in our place. 

The gospel pulls families together.

The A and the C family saying goodbye at the dock

We have been so blessed by being a part of this great work for the past eighteen months. We are now with our family and old friends. We have left our new friends, and we are grieving for that loss.  Our hearts have been knit together through the love of the Savior, a love we have shared--His gospel of life, hope and love.

Trying to describe the end of a mission is really not possible.  What have we really learned – our Heavenly Father and the Savior Jesus Christ have a love for each individual, a love that can only be described as an eternal and infinite love that we cannot understand, we can only have gratitude and amazement that we are able to observe how that love gets manifested in countless small ways.

After being home for a week we are already talking about our next mission.  How much we loved our first!!!

The Amlan Branch

Little Vincent's baptism

Returning F family. One of our three former branch presidents

The children of the A family

Our last Amlan branch outing: part of Sister A's family

Dumaguete 1 branch presidency with families

Zone conference Pres. & Sis. Schmutz

Our last missionaries in Amlan, Elder's V & T

Dropping off a bag of rice before we leave

The Schmutz's and the Cropper's outside their home. Temple behind us.

Just landed in Medford Oregon. Wow it is cold!!